Natural Remedies for Treating Insomnia

It is natural to have some sleepless night, but if you have sleeping problems for a long period of time, you might suffer of insomnia. There are various natural remedies for treating insomnia, but before you start using any of them, make sure that your doctor is fine with it.

Insomnia can be a symptom of a more severe condition, but that is rarely the case.

Try Valerian and Melatonin for a Good Night’s Sleep

Valerian is one of the natural solutions you can choose to treat insomnia. Valerian is an herb, and it has been used for this purpose for a very long time. The way in which valerian works in the body is unknown, but it is believed that it affects the calming neurotransmitter called GABA.

Valerian is not addictive, as many sleeping pills are. However, it does not for everyone. People should take valerian one hour before going to sleep, and it starts to work in 2 or 3 weeks. Valerian might have some side-effects, such as dizziness, headaches, dizziness, and palpitations. Valerian should not be combined with certain medications, or with alcohol.

Melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body, which helps us when we want to sleep. However, when the sleep cycle is disturbed, the levels of melatonin can be affected. When that happens, it is advisable to take melatonin capsules. They should be taken about 30 minutes before you want to go to sleep.

People who suffer of depression, or who have certain autoimmune illnesses should stay away from it. According to various researches, there aren’t any side effects of taking melatonin.

Try Relaxation Techniques and Pay Attention to Your Diet

You can try some relaxation techniques, if other solutions do not work. They are one of the most effective means of increase sleep time, of falling asleep faster, and of feeling rested when you wake up. You can try some visualization techniques. The best way to do this is to imagine a relaxing scene, such as a beautiful beach, a house at the countryside, and so on.

Try to see it from all the points of view: the image, the sounds, the feeling of the wind on the skin, and so on. You can also try progressive muscle relaxation. It is very easy to master. All you need to do is contract the muscles in the body, starting from the face, all the way down to your feet, and then to relax them.

For example, you contract your face muscles for 8 seconds, and then you relax. Then you contract your neck muscles, and then you relax them. You repeat the process all the way down to your feet.

The diet is very important when it comes to sleeping as well. For example caffeine can have a huge impact on ones sleep. Chocolate, soft drinks, and other foods and drinks which have caffeine can mess with your sleep. Sweets can influence your sleep as well, so try not to consume them in the evening.